Latch needle



AprilI 16, 1929. H, R @Hmm 1,709,631

` LATCH NEEDLE Filed June 30, 1927 Patented Apr. 1G, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,109,631 PATENT oFFicE.

HUBERT B. SCHMIDT, OF SWEDESBOR,V NEW JERSEY, .ASSIGNO'R TO FERDINAND D. FLEMING, vOIF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LATCH NEEDLE.

Application led Iune 30,

l The object of my invention is to provide a needle that is adapted for use in repairing a run in a stocking or other knitted fabric. Such ravels orruns-eaii be, and long have 5 been, repaired by means of ordinary latch `'needles like tlioserused in knitting machines, but the operation is more or less diiiicult due -to the necessity of carefully-controlling the operation of the pivoted latch by fpreventing.

its untimely closing against the ee end of the hook and by opening it at the proper time'. By means of my improved needle, the free end of the latch is maintained spaced from the free end of the hook except when forced thereagainst at that stage of the loop forming operation at which-it is necessary to close it, the latch opening automatically at the roper time in the sequence of operations. improved needle comprises a shank, hook and latch, all of ordinary form, but com- .bined with a s ring that allows the .latch to swing freely, iioin a -pendent position, upward throu hout nearly the whole arc of nearly 180 egrees required to bring it into '25 contact with the needle hook, but which yieldingly resists such swinging movement of the latch as it approaches the needle hook.

The invention is capable of embodiment in different forms, several of whichI are shown in the drawings, in whichv Fig. 1 is aside view of a need1e embodying my invention and secured in a. handle.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which said needle is made. v

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 1,' but on an enlarged scale, of the latch eiidof said needle. f Fig. 4 is a view, similar ,to Fig. 3, of a modifiation. 4o

of another modification. 4 The needle comprises a shank a, .an end v Shook b and a pivoted latch c. A spring d is so positioned that, as the latchis swung tof "'ward the hook, the latch engages` the spring e and is thereb vnormally'prevented from closing against tlie hook, the spring, however, being compressible Ato' allow the closing of vthe Fig. 2 is s own a blank from which the.l

needle is formed.l The blank is widened at iv; Y and after the blank is folded longitudinally upon itself to -form the completed shank, the

- Fig. 5 isa view, similar toFigsg and 4,

latch when the `thread yslides thereover and presses against it at-one stage ofthe 1 'what I claim and `desire to 1927., Serial No. 202,501.

late h c is pivotally mounted between the opposing wings of the shank at the widened art thereo 1n this widened part of the lank, ad]acent to and just above the pivot of the latch,` the metal of the blank is slit along two longitudinally extending lines, as at y, to form a narrow strip, the upper end of which 'is severed from the blank, thereby forming va flexible and elastic narrow strip integrally connected at its lower end with the blank. When the blank is folded upon itself longitudinally to form the completed shank, this strip functions as a leaf spring d, its free ,end engaging the latch c, in the closing movement thereof, before the latch contacts with the free end of the hook b; the spring alsol functioning to automatically open the latch when it is not held closed by the thread of the fabric.

It is also possible to form a strip as described and sever the lower end of the strip from the blank, thereby forming a leaf spring "e which is integral with the shank at the upper end of the spring', as shown in Fig. 4, its lower free end being adapted to engage the latch and vyieldingly resist its closingmovement.

In Fig. 5 the springis formed' by cutting.

' the blank as described, leaving both ends unsevered, and bending in the strip to form a bow spring f, which operates in the same manner as springs ci and e.

For hand operation, for which the needle is Ymore particularly intended and adapted, the needle shank is inserted securely in'a han- Except for the provision of tlicdescribed spring, operating as described, the needle may exactly conform instructure tovthatof the ordinary knitting machine needle such as is commonly employed in the fabrication of hosiery and other knitted oods.

The operation of the escribed needle, in the repairing of runs in knitted fabric, is the same as that of an ordinary needle .when operated, 10o in the manner well known in the art, to close runs; but the s ring-opposed latch enables the operation to conducted with greater-facilit and speed and with the exercise of less l skill?" L 'M 105 Having now fully described my invention,` f

protect by Letters Patentis: i. I

A1. A. needle comprising a shank, anlend hook, anda latch pivotally mounted on the v shank, the latch being of such length that when swung against the hook it extends beyond the extremity of the same, the metal of the shank being slit near the latch pivot to form a leaf spring adapted to engage the latch as it is swung toward the hook and yeldingly oppose its movement into contact therewith and tending, when the latch is closed to open it.

2. A needle comprising a shank, an end hook, and a latch pivotally mounted on the shank, 'the metal of the shank being slit along lines from a point in proximity to the pivot of the latch upward toward the hook and cut .away from the metal of the shank at one end to form a leali' spring integrally united at one end to the metal of the shank, the free end ot the spring extending inwardly and adapted to engage the latch when swung upward to- 20 Ward the hook and yi'eldingly oppose its movement into contact with the hook and tending, when the latch is closed against the hook, to open it.

3. A needle comprising a shank, an end hook, and a latch pivotally mounted on the shank, the metal of the shank being slit along lines from a point in proximity to the pivot of the latch upward toward the hook and cut away from the metal of the shank vat the upper end to form a leaf spring integrally united at its lower end to the metal of the shank, the free end of the spring extending upwardly and adapted, in the upward movement of the latch, to engage the latch before it contacts with the hook and tending, when the latch is closed against the hook, to open it.

In testimony of Which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on this 6th day of June, 1927.

HUBERT R. SCHMIDT. 

